Shrine.
Inside a room in the shrine's rear courtyard, Grandma Shiori looked at the girl before her and sank into distant memories.
Back then, she had just returned from traveling outside and was floating along the streets of the Royal Capital!
When she heard that the daimyo's child had been born, she could not contain herself and floated over!
Ever since she had become the only soul of the dead living in the world of the living, perhaps only seeing young children could bring even a little comfort and hope to her grieving heart.
Yet when Grandma Shiori arrived at the Daimyo's Mansion and saw the newborn Akishinomiya Yuri, she was astonished to discover that this child could actually see her, a departed soul!
Although the people around them still could not see Grandma Shiori, a departed soul, Akishinomiya Yuri lying in the cradle seemed able to see her.
Infant Akishinomiya Yuri smiled and waved her chubby little hands at Grandma Shiori.
Looking at Akishinomiya Yuri waving at her from the bed, Grandma Shiori's feelings at the time had been far too complicated and overwhelming!
No one could understand what she had truly felt in her heart back then!
Ever since she became the only departed soul in the world of the living, how desperately she had longed for someone to see her, to chat and speak with her!
After confirming that Akishinomiya Yuri truly could see her, she cherished this girl more than anyone else.
Grandma Shiori had even gone to see other newborn children in the Royal Capital, hoping those children could see her as well!
Unfortunately, those children were completely different from Akishinomiya Yuri. They simply could not see Grandma Shiori, a departed soul.
Only Akishinomiya Yuri was special!
Disappointed, she could only return to the Daimyo's Mansion and watch over and cherish Akishinomiya Yuri as she grew up!
Later, as Akishinomiya Yuri gradually grew older, Grandma Shiori learned from Yuri's descriptions why she could see her, a departed soul.
Akishinomiya Yuri's eyes were different from everyone else's. Ordinary people could only see the world where the living dwelled.
But Akishinomiya Yuri could see both the world where the living dwelled and the sight of people ascending to the Pure Land and Yomi after death.
And this small shrine within the Daimyo's Mansion had actually been built by Akishinomiya Yuri for Grandma Shiori.
Grandma Shiori had always believed that the reason she could not enter the world of departed souls after her death was God's punishment, which was why she had asked Akishinomiya Yuri to build this small shrine.
Normally, Grandma Shiori offered her prayers in this shrine as well.
"Grandma, snap out of it!!" Akishinomiya Yuri mischievously waved her hands before Grandma Shiori's eyes.
Grandma Shiori came back to her senses. Looking at the mischievous Akishinomiya Yuri before her, she said with a gentle smile in her eyes.
"Little Yuri, what's wrong?"
Akishinomiya Yuri sat on a stool, swinging her little legs, her face full of worry as she said.
"Um, Grandma, I'm thinking about how to send those two ninja from Leaf Village back."
The person she most wanted to meet was the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, not these two ninja who were even younger than her. That was why Akishinomiya Yuri was so troubled now.
Looking at the worried Akishinomiya Yuri before her, Grandma Shiori smiled in her eyes and deliberately teased her.
"Little Yuri, if a girl frowns at such a young age, she'll become ugly when she grows up, you know~!"
Akishinomiya Yuri's previously troubled face immediately turned cute upon hearing that. She even raised both hands to her mouth and made a smiling expression.
She did not want to become ugly!!
Looking at the earnest and stubbornly adorable little girl before her, Grandma Shiori also broke into a happy smile.
Little Yuri, you are the treasure God bestowed upon me!
I will never let anyone hurt you!
Grandma Shiori floated over to the window and looked at the moon in the sky, which was dimmer than usual, as she said.
"If Little Yuri wants those two ninja to return to Konoha, you can just tell your father. He won't refuse your request!"
Looking at Grandma Shiori floating by the window, Akishinomiya Yuri stopped acting cute, worry returning to her face as she said.
"Although Father won't refuse my request if I ask!"
"Those two ninja from Leaf Village have only been here for a day. If I make them return to Konoha just like that, they must have a lot of worries too!"
"I don't want those two ninja gentlemen to go back just because of my personal wishes. If they return like this, it might leave a stain on their ninja careers!"
Yes, Princess Akishinomiya Yuri was just that gentle and considerate of others, fundamentally different from everyone else!
Grandma Shiori turned around, warmth in her eyes as she looked at the adorable Akishinomiya Yuri before her and said.
"If Little Yuri doesn't want to do that, you can have them protect you while you go outside and play for a few days. Then you can casually find a reason to send them back to Konoha!"
"Little Yuri, haven't you always longed to see the outside world?"
"With those two ninja protecting you, your father will surely agree!"
Akishinomiya Yuri's face was full of hesitation, but after hearing Grandma Shiori's words, she was tempted.
Ever since Akishinomiya Yuri had been born, she had always lived within the Daimyo's Mansion.
She had never had a chance to go outside!
Although life in the Daimyo's Mansion was very good, Akishinomiya Yuri also wanted to see different scenery and ways of life!
And she had always learned about the outside world through Grandma Shiori before. Now, she finally had a chance to see it for herself!
But why had Grandma Shiori, who had always opposed her going out before, agreed today?
Whenever she had wanted to go out in the past, Grandma Shiori had always disagreed. Why today...
Akishinomiya Yuri looked at Grandma Shiori with hesitation on her face and said.
"Grandma, why are you agreeing to let me go out this time?"
Grandma Shiori floated before Akishinomiya Yuri, tenderness in her eyes as she stroked her little head and said.
"Because those two ninja can protect Little Yuri very well!"
Looking at the innocent Akishinomiya Yuri before her, Grandma Shiori could not help thinking of the ninja wearing a Rabbit Mask whom she had sensed that morning.
That Anbu wearing a Rabbit Mask was called Yagokoro, and he possessed an almost terrifying amount of Chakra.
It was something Grandma Shiori had never encountered in any ninja she had seen before!
Even if the Chakra of all the adult ninja she had seen before were combined, it still would not match that of Yagokoro, the Rabbit Mask-wearing child she had sensed that morning!
That child was even younger than Little Yuri, yet already so strong!
By people's standards, someone like Yagokoro should be called a "genius," right?
As for the child wearing a dog mask named White Wolf, he had very little Chakra, but compared to the ninja Grandma Shiori had seen before, he was still considered outstanding!
When Grandma Shiori sensed the Chakra within Yagokoro that morning, she had hoped that this genius might be able to see her!
To her disappointment, however, this genius could not see her at all either!
Looking at the adorable Akishinomiya Yuri in her red-and-white shrine maiden outfit, Grandma Shiori thought to herself.
Little Yuri, you truly are one of a kind!
La la la, first update!!
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